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A Summary of Instrumental Data on the Recent Strong Vrancea Earthquakes, and Implications for Seismic Hazard

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Abstract

The paper is intended to summarize the most important instrumental data of direct relevance for engineering activities, obtained in connection with the strong Vrancea earthquakes of 4 March 1977, 30 August 1986, 30 May 1990, and 31 May 1990, and to point out some significant consequences and conclusions derived on this basis. Two main objectives of this analysis may be emphasized: (a) in-depth analysis of the radiation pattern; and (b) analysis of the spectral contents of ground motion in connection with the features of local conditions, and with the intention of assessing the relative importance of two main factors: source mechanism and long-distance wave propagation, versus features of local geological conditions. Some specific methodological developments used in this context may be mentioned: (a) use of a new approach to the quantification of ground motion intensity on the basis of instrumental (accelerographic) information; (b) analysis of radiation pattern in spectral and directivity terms; (c) parametric analysis of site-specific transfer functions for the local sequences of geological layers; and (d) a critical view on the outcome of post-earthquake survey techniques, keeping in view the implications of the spectral features of ground motion. The main results obtained are related to: (a) ground motion radiation features that have to be taken into account in connection with the data on the source mechanisms of the successive events dealt with; (b) expected spectral features of future strong ground motion at different sites; (c) methodological developments proposed for the assessment of local transfer functions; and (d) implications for microzonation activities.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are glad to emphasize the valuable support from which they benefitted in these activities. The generous aid in terms of accelerographic instrumentation, provided subsequent to the 1977 earthquake by the Agency for International Development of the US State Department, which represented the bulk of the accelerographic network used, must be emphasized again. The support provided by INCERC (National Building Research Institute, Bucharest) for research in this field and, especially, for maintenance and exploitation of the accelerographic network, was crucial. A research project sponsored in the framework of the MENER research program under the auspices of the National Agency for Research was of special importance in this work. The support provided in this latter framework by the Institute of Geodynamics of the Romanian Academy and by the Technical University of Civil Engineering, Bucharest, must also be mentioned. Last, but not least, the names (in alphabetic order) of some colleagues having contributed must be mentioned: Emil Sever Georgescu, Mihail Stancu, Olga Stancu (INCERC), Ion Vlad, Nausica Vlad (Technical University).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Academy of Technical Sciences of Romania and Institute of Geodynamics of the Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania

    Horea Sandi

  2. Institute of Geodynamics of the Romanian Academy, 19–21, Str. Jean-Louis Calderon, 020032, Bucharest, Romania

    Horea Sandi

  3. INCERC (National Building Research Institute), 266, Şos. Pantelimon, 021652, Bucharest, Romania

    Ioan Sorin Borcia

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  1. Horea Sandi
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  2. Ioan Sorin Borcia
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Correspondence to Horea Sandi.

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Sandi, H., Borcia, I.S. A Summary of Instrumental Data on the Recent Strong Vrancea Earthquakes, and Implications for Seismic Hazard. Pure Appl. Geophys. 168, 659–694 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-010-0157-2

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